THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN A SENATOR LOSES AN ELECTION-GRANTS GIVEN ARE WITHDRAWNRelease Date: January 12, 2007

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN A SENATOR LOSES AN ELECTION? GRANTS ARE WITHDRAWN

THE CHECKS NOT EVEN IN THE MAIL!

My office received a disturbing call from Kim Conklin of the Department of State. Last year Senator Nick Spano awarded the town $126,000 for a generator and a music lab at the TheodoreYoungCommunity Center. In November the Senator lost his re-election campaign. What happened? We were advised that all grants that were awarded in 2006 by the Senator’s office prior to the election were withdrawn.

The town relied on receiving this grant to fund both programs. Two years ago – immediately after the Senate election was disputed – I received a call from a non profit organization in Ardsley that had received a substantial pre-election day grant from the Senator. The grant was in jeopardy. After the election was certified the grant was awarded.

This is politics at its worst. This highlights the need to reform the way Albanydoes business. I am hopeful that Senator Andrea Stewart Cousins office will be able to help. I am confident that she will be an important voice for government reform.